National Convening Program Books 2014 YEO National Convening Program Book | Page 72

YOUNG ELECTED OFFICIALS

72

James Taylor

City Council Member
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
James Taylor was elected in 2009 to the Winston-Salem City Council,
where he currently serves as the chair of the public safety committee
and a member of the public works committee. A dedicated father and
community advocate, Taylor’s professional career has been centered on
working with the youth in his community through the Salvation Army Boys
and Girls Club, the Salvation Army Community Corrections Center, the Department of Juvenile
Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Juvenile Drug Treatment Court, and Winston-Salem
State University. Taylor was born and raised in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and is a proud
product of the Forsyth County public schools. He graduated cum laude from North Carolina
Central University with a BS in criminal justice. He was a three-year letterman and student athlete
for the North Carolina Central University football team.

Kaying Thao

School Board Member
Roseville, Minnesota
Kaying Thao serves on the Roseville School Board. She is the youngest
and first Hmong-American to be elected onto the school board of
Roseville – a district with nearly 7,000 students. Thao was born in a
Thai refugee camp and immigrated to the United States with her parents,
making her a first generation Hmong immigrant. She is an alumna of St.
Catherine University and Metropolitan State University, and holds a master’s degree in public and
nonprofit administration. She is currently a doctoral candidate in education at Hamline University
in St. Paul, Minnesota. Aside from her elected position, she works at the Minnesota House of
Representatives as a legislative aide. She also serves as a human rights commissioner for the
city of Roseville, as a board member for various nonprofit organizations, and as the Minnesota
state director for the YEO Network. @onlyoneky

Tiffany D. Thomas

School Board Trustee
Houston, Texas
Tiffany D. Thomas is a school board trustee of the Alief Independent
School District in Houston, Texas. She is the chief development officer
for both the Temenos Community Development Corporation and the
Bread of Life organization. In these roles, she is responsible for overseeing
the operational and fundraising plans for the agencies. Her background as
a certified fundraiser offers a unique perspective to nonprofit management, where she has
served for the last ten years. She has also been involved with the National Urban League, the
Alief Community Leadership Network and the Alief alumni group. Board Trustee Thomas is a
graduate of Leadership Houston and the Women’s Campaign School at Yale University. She
completed her undergraduate studies at Sam Houston State University and received a master’s
of community development from Prairie View A&M University. Thomas is an active member of
the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.
2014 Young Elected Officials Network National Convening